Bun pees outside clean litterbox

[CMina]

So my bun Artemis is a neutered female that’s about a year old.

She actually has excellent litter training. That is, right until I clean her litterbox.  Then she will mostly be peeing outside of it for a few days.

I do leave a little bit of dirty litter for her to recognize the scent, and I haven’t done any changes to her litterbox since we got her.

I think that she simply doesn’t like the feeling of fresh wood pellets under her feet especially since it seems like she slips a lot more on them while trying to get out.

She prefers the softer, dirty pellets which provide more grip.

What do you guys think I can do to get rid of her hatred for the clean pellets and correct her behaviour?

Any ideas on how to increase her grip on the inside of the litterbox?

 

Her litterbox is a plastic tub that measures a little bit more than half of her sitting height.  She specifically has cylindrical horse bedding wooden pellets in her box.

 

 

[Azerane]

I think the wood pellets can be quite hard on their feet too, especially when they’re new. I think Apollo doesn’t like them that much either but fortunately he doesn’t go on litter box strike. You could try putting a thin layer of hay on top, or a thin layer of paper litter pellets on top to soften it up.

[ALRyder]

Are pellets most preferred by the average bunny owner? And why? We use paper litter mixed with newspaper, have a grate over that (which your buns probably wouldn’t like on her feet any more than the pellets), then I put a little hay on top to cushion a bit. I think the idea of putting a thin layer of paper litter is a great one in your case.

[DanaNM]

I always add a fluffy hay layer on top of the pine pellets and my buns seem to appreciate it. You can also try adding a screen. I’m currently using knitting mesh, which is pretty soft on their feet.

@ALRyder I think pine pellets are pretty popular because they are economical and have really good odor absorption. 🙂

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Yes, hay on top is a good idea. It also prevents foot problems, their urine is quite irritating to the skin. We use wooden pellets as well, and we put a layer of hay on top of it.

One more tip to let her spend more time there: put a pile of hay in a corner or at the back. Rabbits are just plain weird: they love to eat while on the John 😆

The litter box may also become a popular lounge spot for her if it has some padding. Another crazy rabbit habit: toilet, snack plate, and bed all in one! 🙄 As long as the layer of hay is thick enough she won’t get messy 🙂

[Author]

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